When a team starts stringing up numerous losses, people would normally blame the head coach on the main reason for the disaster that is occurring. Even if it seems unreasonable, the job of coaches could be temporary because of the scrutiny and criticism they receive from their respective fan bases. Players would rarely receive the hate from their fanbase, especially the likes of LeBron James or Anthony Davis.
This star studded duo led the Los Angeles Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship, but their dreadful start in their 2021-22 campaign is also partly the fault of their players. James has missed over 10 games already this season, while there were vital games where Davis lacked aggressiveness and leadership qualities. Thus, Frank Vogel should not be the only being mentioned for the dismal season of the Lakers so far.
Lakers Blame
James has missed 12 games
When the best player on a legitimate contending team misses almost half the games, it is inevitable for them to struggle and have difficulty finding other players to fill in with James' tremendous numbers. The Lakers are a below .500 team when he fails to suit up, and they have lost to squads like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.
His presence and determination to win every game is still exceptional even at 36 years of age as his tremendous output would rub onto his teammates as well. With the number of games James' has missed, the roster must be given a certain number of games to play as a whole unit before even deciding to pull the trigger on Vogel already. A coach can only do so much if he does not have all weapons at his disposal.
Atrocious turnovers
Even when a team is as talented as the Lakers, racking up on turnovers for many of their games lead to easy baskets on the other end of the court. When they would lose to teams that are expected to have a worse record on them, it is because of their carelessness on the offensive end of the floor. For instance, their loss against the Memphis Grizzlies was due to their 22 turnovers that led to transition points for the Ja Morant and Dillion Brooks-less Grizzlies squad.
Vogel lamented that the Lakers were too casual with the people that gave the Grizzlies massive opportunities to capitalize and raise their confidence throughout the game. Moreover, the Lakers have also surrendered a multitude of double digit leads this season, highlighted by those two aforementioned losses to the Thunder. When turnovers rapidly add up, any team will be able to cut down on huge leads at a quicker pace.
Subpar defense
Previous iterations of the Lakers were remarkable defensively, but this team has been below average because of a slew of reasons. There has been games wherein the lackluster effort and few hustle plays from the Lakers' individuals has caused them the game at the crucial junctures. The departure of players like Alex Caruso and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be a major reason for the downfall of their defensive prowess.
James' defensive abilities has dwindled from his prime years already, and many of their offseason acquisitions would focus on their outside shooting and ability to contribute offensively. If the Lakers plan to improve immensely and be on the same tier as the Golden State Warriors or Phoenix Suns, they must prioritize their defensive effort and providing some sort of resistance for opponents to attack the rim.
These three reasons could arguably be put into Vogel's hands, but tuning into Lakers' games shows that their determination and willingness to win every game is lacking. A plethora of the Lakers' players are already past their prime, meaning they must be more experienced already to rise it up a notch and play harder in the essential parts of the game. Along with the laziness on taking care of the ball, these factors should not be just pinpointed at Vogel.
Give Vogel around 10-15 with an almost full lineup before making an enormous decision.
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